(Dustin Poirier. Photo Credit: UFC.com)

A lightweight battle is in talks to head to the Big Apple.

Former UFC Lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and #8 ranked Dustin Poirier are in talks to meet at UFC 217 at Madison Square Garden on Nov 4. Pettis made the announcement during the UFC Mexico City broadcast on FS1 on Saturday evening.

Pettis (20-6) is coming off an unanimous decision win over Jim Miller at UFC 213 in July. Prior to his latest win, the former champion spent a brief time exploring the featherweight division. After missing weight in his interim featherweight belt bout against Max Holloway at UFC 206, he returned to the 155-pound division.

Poirier (21-5-1) is coming off a no-contest bout against former champion Eddie Alvarez at UFC 211 in May. The bout was called off due to Alvarez throwing an illegal knee at Poirier. Many anticipated that a rematch would be in the works following the stoppage. Instead Alvarez starting filming the latest season of the Ultimate Fighter.

UFC 217 will be the promotions second visit to the Big Apple. The first was exactly a year prior to UFC 217 on Nov 12 for UFC 205.

The rumored card so far

Michael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre – Middleweight championship bout

Cody Garbrandt vs. TJ Dillashaw – Bantamweight championship bout

Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Rose Namajunas – Strawweight championship bout